This week, Jason Ball sits down with the legendary Tom Sietsema, who recently retired after nearly 26 years as The Washington Post’s food critic 🍽️. From dining in disguise to crafting over 1,200 restaurant reviews, Tom shares what it was like living a double life as one of America’s most respected (and most anonymous) culinary voices.
Now, he’s stepping into his life after news — trading deadlines for dinner parties and launching a new project called “Lamb Burger Night” 🍔✨ — intimate dinners at his home where conversation and connection are the main courses.
In this deliciously thoughtful episode, Tom and Jason talk about:
👤 The art (and anxiety) of maintaining anonymity as a critic
🍷 Why lamb burgers beat hamburgers — and his secret recipe tips
💬 How community and conversation can heal a divided world
📚 His plans for a newsletter, a children’s book (with one recipe!), and more
Tom also shares why he thinks everyone should “dream out loud” and what comes next when you finally step away from one of journalism’s most coveted jobs.
🎧 Tune in for lessons on taste, risk, and reinvention — served with a side of wisdom and warmth.
👉 Listen now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
💬 Have thoughts on this episode? Drop a comment or DM @lifeafternewspodcast.
📸 Follow for more behind-the-scenes stories: @lifeafternewspodcast
🔗 Follow Tom’s next chapter: TomSietsema.com
🌟 Next on Life After News: If you’ve ever watched a police pursuit in Los Angeles, you’ve probably heard Larry Welk calling the action from the sky 🚁. He’s hung up his helicopter headset. We’ll find out what he’s doing now in his own life after news.
#LifeAfterNews #TomSietsema #WashingtonPost #FoodCritic #Podcast #CulinaryJourney #LifeAfterJournalism #LambBurgerNight #FoodStories #JasonBall #MediaReinvention #JournalismLife #LarryWelk
Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.
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